Historic Savay Lake faces rail threat

THE long-term future of one of the country’s best-loved carp venues and at least two other lakes could be under threat if a proposed North-to-South high-speed rail link is built.

The High Speed 2 project – promised by the new coalition Government in May and currently in the initial consultation and feasibility study stage – proposes to run 250mph trains on 15-metre-high viaduct-style structures above big carp mecca Savay Lake and several other well-known waters in the Colne Valley area of West London.

The line could open in 2025, with construction of the first London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street section starting in 2018 and further connections to Manchester and Scotland being added at a later date.

It is thought the Colne Valley’s Broadwater, Long Pond and Korda lakes would also be affected, either directly by the rail line or indirectly through construction and infrastructure work. Korda is run by the British Carp Study Group and is still home to its original stocking of fish from the 1950s. It also holds many huge tench.